Here's my training from this week thus far - basically I practice qigong, taiji, and restoratives like Indian club swinging, stretching, mobility, daily; and my strength training is: M-squat / accessory work / conditioning; Tu-bench press / accessory work / conditioning; Th-deadlift / accessory work / conditioning; F-press / accessory work / conditioning. I train taiji under my Shifu, 31st generation Grandmaster of the Shaolin Temple Southern Yard Shi Deru, on M/W/F as well. Currently I have completed the Yang short and long forms, Chen style short form and most of the long form, basic introduction to taiji sword work, and of course qigong and tai gong series he teaches.

Rob-I used to compete in powerlifting, I was 50lbs heavier and my lifts were way over what they are now. I got away from barbell work for a while and now that I've lost a ton of weight and am over all healthier I'm just wanting to gain back some strength and muscle. Nothing better for that than squatting and deadlifting! Now I want to balance my strength work with mobility, flexibility, energy work, and meditation and not let things become imbalanced again.

I've actually decided to start training with free weights exclusively again (in my father-in-laws garage), totally agree with your thoughts on squats and deads, though i have to modified the squat and deadlift for my bodytype, am 6'4 with a long torso and have a herniated disc that like's to flair up every now and then. But I love bench squats, hip belt squats and Romania deads, these babies work really well for me.

Great call on the hip belt squat! One of my clients is an extremely high ranking swimmer - he was 9x all American at Auburn University and is getting ready to swim in the Nationals & World Qualifier next week - he has similar issues as you, he's 6'5" and we've had to modify his squats to box squats at various heights. His torso is extremely long and he has a "hinge" in the lower back that makes holding a neutral spine position tough when he squats too deep.

Cool training man! I've never noticed this log before but will certainly be following it nice to see someone doing martial arts too, I used to train in taekwondo and may soon be starting muay thai! All the best dude!Ross

klaatu21 wrote:sensai ross, forgive me for doubting you and myself

Mini Forklift Ⓥ wrote:There's only one thing I'm riding at 6am, and it's not a bike!

I competed regularly from 2005-2007 maybe 3x a year I guess. I was far from exceptional but loved the sport. At my heaviest I weighed around 225-230 but always competed in the 220s. I was a 198 once most of the time I weighed in around 205-215.

Best contest lifts were a 450 squat 285 bench (I pressed 305 but got called for hips rising up); and deadlifted 463. In training I had done box squats for a best of 485, and benched 315 in training. I never took maxes in the deadlift, usually saved that for the meet.

While I was definitely bigger I was far from healthy. I ate a typical powerlifter anything goes type of diet. Lots of meat, lots of sugar crap, lots of starch and a little fruit and very little veg. Got plenty of fat in the diet too!

I love the way I feel on a plant based diet now. Obviously my lifts aren't in the realm of what they used to be but that's ok. I love training the lifts without killing myself an I like having a leaner healthier physique. I'm more interested in balancing out my program but I have to say when my client David (an exceptional powerlifter-elite at 114 lb and 123 lb weight class) is getting ready for a meet I start missing it! David's great best geared lifts of 425 squat, 320 bench, and 435 deadlift at 123 lbs bodyweight and he recently did a raw meet weighing around 132 lbs and went 365 squat, 310 bench, and 440 deadlift! I've actually got him transitioning to a heavier plant based diet now as well.

Got away from keeping my training log updated due to being really busy this past week or so. On vacation now until 7/21 - travelling from Atlanta --> State College, PA --> leaving State College Tuesday for Pittsburgh then back to ATL the 20th or 21st. Still getting my workouts in though!

Plan to hit a full body strength workout tomorrow, we are driving to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, then back to powerlifting workouts, there is a nice bodybuilder's gym near my in-laws, plan to do squats/deads on Wed and bench/military press on Fri.